High School Reunions: A Dying Event?

No matter where you attended high school, it is a given that every decade some cheerleader will get the idea that the class should get together and relive those good old days. Somehow there is always a group who believes that the quality of their lives will somehow pale without high school reunions.

In theory, high school reunions are something to look forward to. It doesn’t matter if high school was a decade or five ago. High school reunions give people a chance to find out what others have been doing. Participants can get reacquainted with old friends and maybe even make some new ones.

Back in our parents’ day it was the norm for high school graduation to be the end of their education. They often lived their whole lives in that town. They saw their high school friends at soccer matches, church and the Saturday night dance at the Elks’ club. Yet, high school reunions were an annual social event.

Times have changed. Grads go on to university or college, make new friends. They marry someone from a distant city, and change job locations several times. They are scattered all over the globe. It is neither feasible nor pressing to return for a high school reunion where you may remember few. One organizer of a poorly attended high school reunion suggested they make the next one a virtual affair.

The rapid rise of social networks such as Facebook has rejuvenated interest in-and a vehicle for-finding old friends from high school. It is now possible to locate just about every graduate from high school days through e-mail and social networking. This makes getting the word out much easier. But does this mean attendance at an actual reunion will be higher?

With the advent of widespread availability of computers, the Internet, email accounts and social networks, we have become a society of virtual contact. A young couple who got married last year in the Caribbean sent a live feed of their wedding to friends and family. If you were unavailable for the live feed, the wedding video could be viewed on YouTube. Wedding “guests” sent messages to the young couple via Facebook. The reception was very small!

Maybe it is time we forget the high school reunion dinners and dances and picnic and week-end campouts. Perhaps it’s time we take a page from the newlyweds and realize that the Internet and social networking have changed the way we reconnect?

Perhaps it’s time high school reunions went high tech? It would be a lot easier for graduates from all over the world to take an hour to connect with old friends than to travel for a day to get to some function where everyone stands around and sizes up the rest of the graduating class wondering how soon they can politely escape.


To learn more about high school reunions, visit http://www.classmates.com/registration/services/reunion/planner

Learning About Your High School Reunion

Attending a high school reunion is a great choice for people who are seeking to find their old friends or talk with classmates that they have not been able to keep in contact with as time as progresses. It is an event that gives everyone the chance to meet up with each other after all the years have passed since graduation. It is a fun, fulfilling, and enjoyable experience that you are certain not to forget.

There are a lot of reasons why you should consider checking out your own high school reunion. You might want to meet up with some of your friends that you were not able to maintain friendships with as you grew older. It is an opportunity to show everyone how much you have changed and matured throughout the years. By going to your reunion, you will have a lot of new opportunities for friendship presented to you.

You could also network with many of the classmates that are also working in the same area or industry. You might discover that many of your classmates are working within the industry that you have chosen to work in as well. You could learn about networking events to attend or possible collaborations that you would like to work on in the future.

The high school reunion is commonly portrayed as an uncomfortable situation that most people dread to attend. In contrast, it tends to be very enjoyable. You have the opportunity to catch up with some people that you have not seen in a very long time and even create a few new photographs for memories.

You might discover that you have a lot in common with your classmates now, even more than you did years ago when you first started going to school. You may have the opportunity to make amends with people that bullied you in the past, or even people that you may have bullied. You can share information about how your lives have changed and lessons that you have learned since that point in time.

You don’t have to worry about what you are going to wear to your reunion or what everyone is going to think of you. There are many people who are curious about how their friends from the past may look, but the real interest is found in how everyone’s lives have changed. No one is going to be rude or judge you based on how you are looking when you are at the reunion.

There are also many activities in these types of events. Performances, dancing, music, and games are just some of what you might experience. You will see that it is truly unforgettable.

For the most part, your high school reunion is going to be a great experience for you to encounter. Regardless of if you want to meet up with old friends or just see how people have changed since school, it’s a memorable event to attend. You will never forget the experience overall.


For more helpful information, I recommend www.classmates.com. 

High School Class Reunions Don’t Come Often…Are You Ready to Plan Yours?

One of life’s rare but often times most anticipated events are periodic high school class reunions.  It certainly is wonderful to reconnect with old friends and classmates after several years apart, but finding everyone and assembling them once again can be challenging.  It’s also difficult to know what to expect, as the passage of time has undoubtedly changed and molded the kids you once knew into adults who may be very different from what you recall.  Nevertheless, there are some things you can do if you’re planning such an event to make it comfortable and a good memory for all involved.

First of all, how in the world do you find all your former classmates?  Where have they all gone?  In today’s well-connected world of social media, going on the hunt online is very likely your best bet.  Try Facebook.  Once you assemble a group of old classmates, begin the process.  Assemble a list.  Find out what people know about others.  Chances are you’ll begin to make good progress as you get multiple others involved and networking again.  Eventually you’ll pull together a list of those who no one can seem to find.  Work your network to try to locate them.  Check your old hometown; perhaps old family members or acquaintances have a lead.

As you begin reaching out to old names and faces, it’s a good idea to establish a firm date for the reunion.  Set that date well in advance and make it well known to all.  This way your classmates - some of whom may live in other states by now, or even other countries - can have ample time to block out the date and begin making travel plans.  Be considerate and give plenty of notice; this way you can build your chances of capturing as many people as possible for a well-attended event.

Make sure to commit early on to finding a venue for the event, and make people aware of this too as early as possible.  Those who will need to travel some distance will appreciate knowing the location so they can arrange for hotels nearby or even a visit to local friends and family.  It wouldn’t hurt to book a spot close to the town where you all grew up together, as it’s a pretty good chance that you will get a fair amount of response from people who still live within the area.

Have you considered what people will do at the reunion?  Should you have a themed event with music and decorations from your time period, or is that a bit much for your tastes?  Will there be games or special reminiscences?  It seems appropriate that such a grand gathering calls for cocktails and a nice sit-down dinner, so one and all can be comfortable and get reacquainted in a festive setting.  Keep things positive; don’t bring up anything that will embarrass or cause bad feelings, like uncomplimentary nicknames or bad memories.  You all know each other’s past; a formal occasion where spouses are present is hardly the time to cut up about things that may humiliate others.

You should think about what the event will look like.  Will it have a theme?  Should there be music, décor or photos reminiscent of that era?  Some reunions do fun things like a trivia game about old classmates or school experiences.  Certainly dinner and a cocktail hour is a safe move, as people will be expecting this to be a major event where they can relax and enjoy a day or evening with old friends.  Make the event and anything you plan upbeat and positive.  Refrain from bringing up nasty old nicknames, or embarrassing stories that may best be left in the past.  Remember spouses will be present.  Keep it clean and respectful.  Don’t dredge up old awkward tales that will only create resentment.

For the organizers of these kinds of events there is obviously a cost factor to booking a venue, catering and planning.  When you invite old classmates, they’ll likely expect that you’ll ask for a registration fee to help share the cost of the gathering.  Just don’t make it so expensive that they’ll think twice about attending.  You can plan a good event without going overboard on price.

Of course this event will incur a cost, if you’re serving food and drinks and booking a venue, and perhaps having entertainment.  It’s not fair for one or a few to shoulder that cost, so charging a nominal fee of some sort is certainly in line.  Just make sure that you’re not charging an exorbitant amount that would be prohibitive to attendees.  Plan an event that is not so extravagant that it would prevent some from making the trip.

Finally you’ve worked hard to reassemble the old gang, and you’ve come this far.  Why not find a way to make sure you all keep in touch?  Offer a way for everyone to give their contact information, if they so choose, so people can stay connected.  Or perhaps more appropriate and efficient in this high tech age, create a Facebook page for your class and let members opt in.  This way everyone is literally a click away so they don’t have to wait until future high school class reunions to say hello!

To learn more about high school reunions, click here

Perspective Changes as we Age

While we tend to show up at a high school class reunion to see people, that reunion is as much about connecting with our own past as it is about anything else; as a result, one of the more interesting features of reunions is the way that the dynamic changes as the attendees grow older.  Maturity plays a role in that change, of course, by it is also driven by the way that our relationship with our high school experience changes as we grow older.

The high school experience is unique, largely because it happens during a period of rapid physical and hormonal change, which creates significant internal chaos.  As we mature into the adults we are going to become we struggle with insecurities that can be paralyzing, mood swings that can be overwhelming, physical changes that can be bewildering (and downright gross), and intellectual and emotional disconnection from that authority structures that have defined our behavior up to that point.

In our psyche, we register our high school experience as one long trauma, and we forge a special bond with our classmates for the simple reason that they share that period of trauma with us.  It's similar to the bond between two soldiers who never meet, but who fight in the same battle.  If they ever do cross paths that bond will connect them, regardless of whatever differences they may have, because of the way that traumatic experiences shape our personalities.

The reason we have reunions is to honor that bond.  But in an important way the bond we have with our classmates isn't about our relationship with them; it's about our relationship with our emerging selves.  And although we connect with the people we went to school with at our reunions, our urge to attend is largely driven by our urge to connect with our own past in order to understand it.

As we grow older our memories of high school dim, and our perspective of the experience changes.  That is inevitable:  we must mature as we age, and perspective is an essential element of maturity.  Importantly, the change in our memory of the high school experience drives a change in our relationships with our classmates, and that is what makes each successive reunion so markedly different.

The first decade of our adult lives is very much about the first stages of building a life, and so by the time we attend our 10-year reunion we probably haven't done much reflection or gained much perspective.  The 10-year reunion tends to be an energetic party because it is an extension of our high school experience, and it's the only way that we know how to reconnect with that experience and the people who feature in it.

In contrast, a 40-year high school reunion tends to be more gentle.  The essential nature of the bond we have with our classmates has, by that time, sunken in.  We have had time to reflect, and we've also probably had time to start missing our youth.  As we value youth more, we also value the connection we have to those we knew when we were young.  That connection is the living symbol of our relationship with our roots.

At its root, every high school class reunion is about connecting with our own past as much or more than it is about connecting with the people we went to school with.  As we reflect on and gain perspective on that past, the reunions themselves become less stressful and more enjoyable.

To learn more about high school reunions, click here

Tips on Making The Best Class Reunion Possible

Most people will eventually go to their high school reunion. Attending your class reunion can be a fun event for some, but it can turn into disaster for others. There are some things that you should and should not do when attending your reunion, and often people will miss these simple things. Here are some of the best tips on surviving your class reunion.

Be aware that not everyone will remember you, and even some who should remember you may have a foggy memory. Even after ten years, memories of high school for some can get very muddy, so you should be prepared to remind people of things and have a good time without being offended when they don't remember a certain incident or even you, yourself.

The next thing that you should so is make sure that you dress nicely. This isn't a chance to try to fit into the clothes that you went to high school in, this is a chance to dress up nice and show off yourself as an adult. Wear something formal or semi-formal or find out what the dress code will be at your reunion before you go.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you want to make sure that you are nice and polite to everyone there. You may have taunted a geek in high school and come across that person in your reunion, but they might be a judge, police officer or even the next prospective employer that you interview with. Remember, people are not the same as they were in high school.

Some people like to lie about what they do for a living and about their life in general at reunions, but you should always tell the truth. You never know when you might run into one of your classmates again, and you will feel very embarrassed if  you tell them you are a Wall Street banker and they find you working at the local car wash.

You may want to bring your spouse along to your class reunion. Not only will they likely find it entertaining to hear stories about high school and meet some of your old friends, spouses have a way of bragging about their significant other so that your friends think even more highly of you.

You probably want to avoid alcohol during your reunion, or at least have a limit of just a couple of glasses. Often, people become very silly and do stupid things when they have drank too much and you don't want your high school friends to think you are a drunk.

Lastly, make sure to have fun. The more you are smiling and having a good time at your class reunion, the more positive image that people will have of you.


For more helpful information, I recommend classmates.com. 

THE SCHOOL REUNION - MORE POPULAR THAN EVER

Americans have long enjoyed the ritual of the school reunion. Former high school classmates probably gather the most often, because secondary education is the final required stage of schooling in the United States. High school also coincides with perhaps the most vivid and emotionally charged era of a person’s life, the teenage years.

Reunions can take place at all levels, however. Colleges, universities, and graduate schools organize reunions of their former students partly as a marketing tool: reunions reconnect and inspire alumni, which undoubtedly boosts charitable giving to the alma mater. Although less common, individuals who feel so inspired may even organize a reunion of their junior high or middle school colleagues, an elementary school class, and even friends from kindergarten.

Summertime is heavily favored for school reunions. The weather’s apt to be good, it’s easier for faraway folks to travel, and the reunion is likely to be close to the anniversary of the participants’ graduation. Thus, the majority of school reunions occur in June, July, August, and perhaps late May. Annual reunions are rare, though. People prefer to schedule them in five-year increments: the first will usually occur 5 years after graduation, and the rest at 10, 15, 20 years, and so on.

A reunion may involve anything from a single reception or meal to a series of events across a weekend, and even a shared vacation such as a cruise. In the more typical weekend-long version, an informal cocktail party might occur on Friday evening, when many attendees may still be en route; a formal dinner and dance on Saturday; and picnic or barbecue on Sunday, when some folks may have already started for home.

Traditionally, volunteer participants have organized school reunions. Since they must identify locations for the gatherings, most often they live locally. Other tasks involve finding and inviting their former classmates, budgeting for expenses so they can assess a fee from the other participants to pay for them, and referring out-of-towners to suitable accommodations.

Professional reunion planners are an option. NARM, the National Association of Reunion Planners, refers school reunions to trained and experienced planners in their region. Similar to a wedding planner or convention organizer, a professional reunion planner relieves the stress from the process so the attendees may just relax and enjoy.

The Internet has done a lot to boost class reunion activities. Websites such as Classmates.com, Switchboard.com, and Reunion.com help reunion organizers find other people from their town, school, and time period. Other sites help volunteer organizers put the event together. Examples include AlumniClass.com, CreativeReunions.com, and ReunionPlanner.com. Then there are online companies, like MyEvent.com and ClassReport.org, that facilitate the creation and maintenance of class reunion websites.

Social media have made school reunions even more of a DIY phenomenon than ever. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other Internet tools make finding old friends and setting up a school reunion event page a snap.


To learn more about high school reunions, visit http://www.classmates.com/registration/services/reunion/planner

Planning Your School Reunion

High school was an emotional time for many and a great time for almost all.  It was the time that you made the transition from being a kid to being an adult.  You grew up surrounded by a group of people that you’ll never forget.   Now it’s time to plan your school reunion and you want it to be the best; you want it be something nobody will ever forget.

Getting Committees Prepared

Committees are usually formed when the time for a reunion looms closer.  These committees are very helpful in dealing with the details of the reunion.   Volunteers are dedicated to making sure that the reunion goes off without a hitch.  You should help vote in a treasurer that can be in charge of funds - so you know that they’re getting dispersed fairly.   A chairman is also important to make sure that everything is getting done well and on time.  

Planning out Activities (and the budgets)

A reunion can become a costly thing.   Depending on what activities you decide on, you are going to have food, music, drinks, and of course, a place to host.   It is important that once activities are planned, a budget is formed and kept to. You can ask for donations from those who will be attending to help off-set the cost.  Just make sure that you aren’t trying to get everything at the highest cost and you should be okay.  If things are spendy, you can always charge a cover at the door to help out. Your old classmates will understand.

Pick activities that will help your old classmates feel at home and help them re-bond.  Go over the “most likely to” quotes and compare to their day to day lives.  Have slideshows with pictures of them in their teenage years.   Get some dancing going and just get out there and mix!

When you pick out activities, make sure it’s things that will include your classmates.  They can tell about their lives and make comparisons between “then” and “now”.  You should have dancing, slideshows, and maybe even re-crown the prom king and queen.  Get out there and mingle!

Hunting down old friends

You might be worried about being able to find your old classmates after so many years separated.  After all, you all have lives now. Women have gotten married and changed their names. People have moved out of state.  Distance has grown.  There are ways to get around this though. Make contacting people a top priority.   Use the popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MyYearBook to help find people.

Just make sure you spell names right!  You can use an old yearbook to double check.  It would suck to miss someone just because you forgot how to spell their last name.

Get People Informed!

Pick out a date and then send those invitations out!  You can include an overview of the reunion and maybe even a contact list for old friends.  The faster you get people invited, the more people are going to show up.  People need time for babysitters and work arrangements.

Let this school reunion be the best ever.  Get started on new memories to match the old.


To learn more about high school reunions, click here